SAC CITY, Iowa -- Grain growers and buyers dealing with corn damaged by August hail storms are encouraged to attend one of two Iowa State University Extension meetings on Thursday, Sept. 17 to better understand quality issues related to the damaged crop. The first meeting will be at the Callender library, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.  A similar meeting will be 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. at the Haye Loft in Wall Lake.

The pre-harvest meetings are being held  to help growers and buyers recognize and manage issues related to grain quality of hail damaged corn as they enter harvest season. Alison Robertson, ISU Extension field crops pathologist, will explain ear rots and their ability to produce mycotoxins. Charles Hurburgh, ISU professor in charge, Iowa Grain Quality Initiative, will speak about the issues related to handling, storing and marketing the corn. The topics of feeding light test weight corn and additives will be covered by Russ Euken, ISU Extension livestock program specialist. John Holmes and Mark Licht, ISU Extension field agronomists will discuss the agronomic issues of tillage and nutrient carryover.

Hardin County Extension will host a meeting for grain growers on Thursday, Sept. 24 at the Hubbard Golf and Recreation Club from 1:30 – 4 p.m. In addition to Hurburgh, Robertson, Holmes and Euken, speakers for this meeting will include Steve Ensley, ISU Veterinary Medicine toxicologist, and Mark Hanna, ISU Extension agricultural engineer.

The meetings are free and open to all interested people. For more information, contact the ISU Extension office – Webster County, (515) 576-2119; Calhoun County, (712) 297-8611; Sac County, (712) 662-7131; or Hardin County, (641) 648-4850; or e-mail Jerry Chizek at jwchizek@iastate.edu or Darwin Miller at darwinm@iastate.edu .

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